Brief by Various
Sundry – November 1994 – Colorado Central Magazine
Electing water boards
DENVER — “No taxation without representation” inspired a revolution in 1776, but that principle seems to have been forgotten when it comes to water in Colorado.
Much of our water, especially in rural areas, is developed and allocated by water conservancy districts, which collect property taxes. However, their boards are not elected; they’re appointed by district judges.
Richard Hamilton, former publisher of the Park County Republican & Fairplay Flume, is promoting an initiative that would put the election of water conservancy district boards on the 1995 state ballot. He’s looking for people interested in circulating petitions. You can reach him at 948 Washington St. #3, Denver CO 80203, or 303-837-0858.
Central Colorado Standard Time
One of the charms of living in this part of the world is that often, when you go to write a check and ask the date, an argument ensues:
“It’s the 17th.”
“No, I’m sure this is the 19th.”
“Really. Then why was yesterday the 16th?”
“Let’s see. The month started on a Tuesday, which means Tuesday was the 15th, and today is what, Thursday?”
“Don’t think so, because there’s …”
Nor are our local media immune to this frequent confusion, as evidenced by the following selections from Central Colorado newspapers:
Did Oct. 20 get lost?
SAGUACHE — This from the Sept. 29 edition of the Crescent: “Due to preparations for our Fall Festival there will be no 3rd Thursday for October.”
5 days from Nov. 3 to Nov. 4
LEADVILLE — From the Herald-Democrat:
“County commissiners from Laku, Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Garfield counties will hold a five-day symposium Nov. 3 and 4 in Eagle County…”
Today’s Thursday, except it’s Friday
SALIDA — The Sept. 30 edition of the Mountain Mail came out on Friday, except for the back page, which was dated Thursday, Sept. 29, including a calendar which listed Thursday events on “Today.”
-Ed Quillen
One for the Road
CRESTONE — You’d think that one more road cut into the piñon-juniper hills of the Baca Grande would not be a big deal. After all, the area is already carved into 5,000-plus lots, all served by roads.
But residents who work hard to prevent future destruction of habitat are up in arms at the mile-long road carved up a mountainside to a high elk meadow, the future home of the Mangala Shri Bhuti Bhuddist meditation and retreat center.
Shri Bhuti is a 35-member Boulder group which has been in existence for two years. Earlier this year, Hannah Strong, through her Manitou Foundtion, granted them 40 acres out of a 916-acre parcel for the construction of a center.
It was understood that an old mining road to the site would get some marginal improvements. Instead, excavator Ken Skogland was paid $12,000 for 1 days work to cut a full two-lane road with pull-outs. It meant the death of at least 50 trees.
The goal of Mangala Bhuti is to build a dozen solitary retreat cabins and a main shrine in a contemplative setting. They plan to revegetate the destroyed areas.
But there’s an irony in the destruction of pristine habitat for the construction of a man-made retreat center, and perhaps that’s what they should contemplate.
Community support is building behind a vision that Hannah Strong give the remaining Manitou Foundation land back to the wild of the mountain, a request she is said to be considering.
— Christina Nealson
